Sinbad Ranch

Product Description

Sinbad Ranch is the second album from Stephen Lomas, following the success of his earlier release, Mermaids. This time the folksy funk of his signature "folk+plus" style embraces the edge & drive of rock, the spirit of country & even picks up a touch of jazz along the way. Strong lyrical content is a standard of Lomas's work & this album refines the theme. He rarely admits to writing love songs but the subject is apparent throughout Sinbad Ranch. The break-heart country strains of Picture in my Pocket & Radio conjure up visions of dim bar-rooms & desert back roads while the haunting affirmation of Blacktop will remind you of the guitar work of Martin Simpson, one of Lomas's major influences. Romance is even hinted in Mambo - perhaps the first song ever inspired by a pair of board-shorts! Here a strange saga unfolds within the rhythmic funk of some David Lindley-like slide work. In their diverse ways these songs all speak of the human spirit - foundering or fulfilled, realised or repentant. The musical identity that delivers these images was no accident. Lomas says "I usally play alone, just me, a guitar & maybe a harmonica. Recording gave me the opportunity to pretend I had a band." A very cohesive sound was achieved by selecting some very capable musicians. On keyboards is Tim Horrigan who co-produced Stephen's first album Mermaids. John "Groover" McDuffie from the Rita Coolidge Band adds some vital guitar & pedal steel. Holding it all together on bass & drums is Steve Goodie of Punch Sound Studios. Steve Goodie also co-produced Sinbad Ranch. This became a true act of faith, hope & e-mails as on completion of the initial tracks, Stephen Lomas moved back to Australia & Steve Goodie relocated his studio from Santa Monica to Nashville.

Sinbad Ranch is the second album from Stephen Lomas, following the success of his earlier release, Mermaids. This time the folksy funk of his signature "folk+plus" style embraces the edge & drive of rock, the spirit of country & even picks up a touch of jazz along the way. Strong lyrical content is a standard of Lomas's work & this album refines the theme. He rarely admits to writing love songs but the subject is apparent throughout Sinbad Ranch. The break-heart country strains of Picture in my Pocket & Radio conjure up visions of dim bar-rooms & desert back roads while the haunting affirmation of Blacktop will remind you of the guitar work of Martin Simpson, one of Lomas's major influences. Romance is even hinted in Mambo - perhaps the first song ever inspired by a pair of board-shorts! Here a strange saga unfolds within the rhythmic funk of some David Lindley-like slide work. In their diverse ways these songs all speak of the human spirit - foundering or fulfilled, realised or repentant. The musical identity that delivers these images was no accident. Lomas says "I usally play alone, just me, a guitar & maybe a harmonica. Recording gave me the opportunity to pretend I had a band." A very cohesive sound was achieved by selecting some very capable musicians. On keyboards is Tim Horrigan who co-produced Stephen's first album Mermaids. John "Groover" McDuffie from the Rita Coolidge Band adds some vital guitar & pedal steel. Holding it all together on bass & drums is Steve Goodie of Punch Sound Studios. Steve Goodie also co-produced Sinbad Ranch. This became a true act of faith, hope & e-mails as on completion of the initial tracks, Stephen Lomas moved back to Australia & Steve Goodie relocated his studio from Santa Monica to Nashville.